There is a distinct lack of sense in most new home developments, and it seems to be getting worse. The plethora of poorly thought and poorly wrought detailing sometimes reaches the absurd. I realize that price is king to the tract builder, but if just a wee bit more thought (and yes dollars) went into these houses, well they would just be more pleasing.

The ancient greeks and egyptians figured out that columns should taper slightly to be more appealing to the eye. Today we have huge "L" shaped "columns" that are arrow straight and covered in yards of stucco. Roll in the six panel front door with its plain rectangular transom on the ground level; but arch top windows on the second floor. Throw in the little bit of stone below and all too similar color brick above and the result is the standard mix of nothing working together. Our eye knows something isn't quite right.

Imagine this house with the following: columns that taper less, the gable over the garage removed, and additional railings on the porch. Substitute a nice brick for the fake stone, use one wide garage door. Better? Sure it is, and it's really not that difficult.

Rory McDonnell is a General Contractor, Licensed Carpenter and Architectural Designer with Build, a construction firm in Stratford, Ontario, specializing in new custom homes and renovations.

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Rory McDonnell

I am a licensed carpenter, an experienced general contractor, and a qualified architectural designer. My expertise is in building, restoring, and renovating new custom homes and heritage homes with respect for their inherent details.

I want to share with you my impressions of the good, the bad and the ugly in the construction and renovation industry.